- Paperback: 448 pages
- Publisher: Marion Boyars Publishers Ltd; New Ed edition (18 Jun 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0714531200
- ISBN-13: 978-0714531205
- Product Dimensions: 19.7 x 13.4 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 209,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
Shafak can switch from a picareque tale of a father and son's broken noses to astute observations of how strangely depair and love manifest themselves without pausing. --The Guardian
A cast of wacky flat-dwellers lends it punch and pizazz --The Independent
Shafak is well set to challenge Mr Pamuk as Turkey's foremost contemporary novelist' --The Economist
A cast of wacky flat-dwellers lends it punch and pizazz --The Independent
Shafak is well set to challenge Mr Pamuk as Turkey's foremost contemporary novelist' --The Economist
Product Description
Keen irony and humour amongst the cats and tomb thieves of Istanbul The setting is a stately residence in Istanbul built by Russian noble émigré Pavel Antipov for his wife Agripina at the end of the Tsarist reign, now sadly dilapidated, flea-infested, and home to ten families. Shafak uses the narrative structure of A Thousand and One Nights to construct a story-within-a-story narrative. Inhabitants include Ethel, a lapsed Jew in search of true love and the sad and beautiful Blue Mistress whose personal secret provides the novel with an unforgettable denouement. Add to this a strange, intensifying stench whose cause is revealed at the end of the book, and we have a metaphor for the cultural and spiritual decay in the heart of Istanbul
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
In search of an 'exotic' holiday destination not too far from the Europe with which I was familiar, I encouraged my husband to book a few days in Istanbul. We both wanted an insight into the people and culture before travelling: he started on Orhan Pamuk, whereas I began reading the Flea Palace. Shafak is a Turkish writer with a background in psychology, who has lived in the USA and Europe. She writes fluidly, with lyrical descriptions of the characters who live in the Flea Palace (Bonbon palace, an apartment block in the giant, overcrowded city that is modern-day Istanbul). The characters are introduced flat by flat; their personalities, hang-ups, frustrations and idiosyncracies examined with a fond, forgiving and sympathetic eye. The novel digresses into numerous story strands, knitted expertly together as the residents interact daily; in the 'palace' there is a pervasive, mystifying stench, a symbol of the decay all around. Just as you imagine this microcosm of a city will unravel, the pace increases, and I found I could not put the novel down, I wanted so much to find out what happened to all the residents. Our visit to Istanbul was enriched by our prior reading, so much so that I went once again last summer, taking my daughters with me. I ahve since read several novels by Shafak, and enjoyed them all.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having visited Istanbul, I was pleased to get a book that was really entertaining and at the same time showed me insights into a different culture and the past and present of a fascinating place. It uses the Arabian Nights idea of lots of mini-stories within one big plot, and I found all the characters interesting and believable. Plus there were some important ideas to make me think. I loved it.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Rambled on and on. The early part about how the White Russian couple came to own the house/apartment block, and the story of the saints buried in the grounds, was promising, but the main body of the novel just failed to engage. I was glad when I got to the end, and the attempt at a post-modern frame-tale, which explains that the whole thing had been made up by an imprisoned revolutionary, did nothing to foster either enjoyment or interest.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
novel of a historical city with a philosophical stand
this is a novelof an historical city, istanbul. the story of the city withits different type of people and stories of the past, and now and maybethe future. Read more
Published on 28 April 2004 by "sortilega"
fantastic novel with a historical and philosophical stand
The Flea Palace is a novel of an historical city, Istanbul. The story ofthe city with its different type of people and stories of the past, andnow and maybe the future. Read more
Published on 26 April 2004
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